The London office of Airwallex at 9:00 AM is a sensory symphony.
There’s the low hum of customers and countries waking up, the rapid-fire rhythm of Slack notifications, and the unmistakable, energetic hiss of the espresso machine – the true heart of the GTM floor. In a year where the International Women’s Day theme is Give to Gain, the atmosphere here feels less like a traditional sales floor and more like a high-performance engine room where everyone is checking the oil for each other.
Life at Airwallex is never dull, least of all on the Go-To-Market (GTM) side. It’s a place where the “lone wolf” mentality has been traded in for a much more powerful currency: shared success.
We spent the morning walking the floor, catching up with four women who are proving that in the world of hyper-growth fintech, the fastest way to get ahead is to bring the person next to you along for the ride.
Building a bigger pie
We find Eleanor Sims, Senior Account Manager, near the enterprise pod. Her Oat Cappuccino, close at hand, is helping her navigate a sprawling global entity map for a client – a role that demands the same abundance mindset she brings to her team. For Eleanor, the old-school competitive tropes don’t apply here; she’s too busy figuring out how to make the “opportunity pie” (her words) bigger for everyone.
“Resist the notion that we are competing for the same slivers of opportunity,” Eleanor says, leaning back. “Giving to others is not a subtraction of what we have – it’s an opportunity to increase the size of the entire pie. When we actively advocate for each other, advancement becomes sustainable and, frankly, less exhausting.”
“If you focus on trying to ‘prove yourself’ quietly and independently, you deliver great work but remain invisible.” — Eleanor Sims, Senior Account Manager, Enterprise
The “Network is Gold” philosophy
Next, we catch Daisy King, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager, Oat Latte in hand. Side note: you may notice a coffee theme – fun fact: Airwallex started life as a coffee shop [LINK]. For someone who navigates the high-pressure world of Venture Capital, scale-ups, and accelerators, she’s remarkably grounded. For Daisy, “Give to Gain” is about the power of the introduction.
“The people who become introducers for you are gold dust,” Daisy says. “Every bit of success I’ve had has come from people who opened doors or sponsored me in the right rooms. This year, I’m giving access – opening doors for female founders through introductions, mentorships, and brand building initiatives. In return, I gain the fresh perspectives I need to build better partnerships.”
“Remember your cheerleaders – and then try to become one for someone else.” — Daisy King, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager, SME & Growth
Normalising the “Ask”
Over in the Amsterdam office, Elyne Atzmon (pictured), Account Executive, is fuelling up with an Iced Matcha with Coconut Milk. It’s a bright, modern choice that mirrors her approach to sales. She’s refreshingly honest about the shift from a “solo” mindset to a collaborative one.
“Asking for help doesn’t make you less capable; it shows you’re focused on the win,” Elyne notes. She’s particularly fired up about closing the negotiation gap. “The data shows women are 10% less likely to ask for a raise. I want to give my advocacy and a nuanced perspective this year. I was given the ‘space to fail’ early on, and that trust is what gave me the confidence to take ownership of complex cases today.”
“Asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s a focus on success.” — Elyne Atzmon, Account Executive, SME & Growth
The ripple effect
Finally, we find Ashley Thorne (pictured), Account Executive, in the middle of a deal workshop. Ashley’s coffee order? Flat White with Oat Milk. She’s dissecting outreach techniques with a newer rep. For Ashley, “Give to Gain” is about the immediate impact of mentorship.
“Progress doesn’t happen alone; it happens when people share the ‘secret sauce,'” Ashley says. She credits her manager, Rebecca, for guiding her through the maze of internal relationships from day one. “I try to be intentional about supporting the team, whether that’s deal workshopping or recognising someone’s work publicly. I’m giving more mentorship this year because I know that by helping the people around me win, I’m gaining the skills that make me a better leader.”
“Everyone has their own strengths. You can learn something from everyone – from product knowledge to communication styles.”
— Ashley Thorne, Account Executive, Sales
The Year Ahead: What We’re Giving (and Gaining)
As the espresso machine finally goes quiet for the midday lull and everyone turns to their Deliveroo orders, the conversation turns to what comes next. For this collective, “Give to Gain” isn’t a seasonal slogan but something practical to live by for the rest of the year.
Daisy is focused on the vault of access, committing her year to opening doors for female founders that might otherwise stay shut, while Eleanor is stepping up to ensure the quieter voices in the room are the ones being amplified in decision-making forums.
Meanwhile, Elyne is doubling down on advocacy to challenge the status quo of strategic leadership, and Ashley is already passing the baton, ensuring that the newer cohort in her pod has the same support system she benefited from.
At Airwallex GTM, the message is simple: the smartest way to move forward is to bring someone with you.
Ready to join a pack that has your back? Explore our London-based GTM roles here.
